New hub for businesses

An enterprise hub to help small businesses and home workers thrive in the rural economy is now open for business at a Northumberland college.

Based at Kirkley Hall, the hub has welcomed its first tenant, the National Farmers Union into one of its five fully-serviced office spaces.

A rural business centre has also been created with six hot desks available to hire on an hourly basis along with a series of meeting rooms which can cater for two to 150 people.

The Enterprise Hub also includes three workshop units to support start-up businesses and, at the end of August, Kirkley Hall’s own farm shop will be opened, selling produce and gifts from the estate alongside a selection of goods from local suppliers.

General manager at Kirkley Hall, Wayne Vickers, said: “Our main focus is rural enterprise. We want to remove some of the existing barriers and give the support to help small businesses thrive.

“We are now seeking tenants for the other fully-supported office spaces.”